Takeru Homura

Takeru is friendly, passionate, competitive, and more openly expressive than Yuusaku. He quickly develops friendships and enjoys dueling for its own sake, although his cheerful demeanor conceals significant unresolved trauma.

He is particularly afraid of losing people close to him. His childhood experiences leave him withdrawn for years, and Flame's presence helps him confront rather than avoid the memories controlling his life.

Takeru possesses a strong sense of pride as a duelist. He wants victories to reflect his own growth rather than simply prove that he can follow Playmaker, and he becomes increasingly determined to resolve unfinished conflicts personally.

Takeru is an accomplished Link Summoner using the Salamangreat archetype. His deck specializes in recycling cards from the Graveyard and repeatedly Link Summoning monsters using another copy of themselves, a technique known through the archetype as Reincarnation Link Summoning.

Salamangreat Heatleo is his principal ace, supported by monsters such as Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf and numerous Spell and Trap cards that recover resources. The deck's ability to rebuild fields mirrors Takeru's persistent fighting style.

Flame assists him within LINK VRAINS and possesses extensive knowledge of Cyberse systems. Their partnership gives Takeru access to abilities and information unavailable to ordinary duelists.

Takeru arrives after the first conflict with the Knights of Hanoi and deliberately seeks out Playmaker. He quickly reveals himself as Soulburner and introduces Flame, establishing that Ai is not the only surviving Ignis.

Takeru was one of the six children kidnapped during the Lost Incident. His experiences during the experiment leave him traumatized, and his parents later die in an accident while searching for him, deepening his guilt and isolation.

Working with Playmaker allows Takeru to confront the conflict surrounding the Ignis rather than remain trapped by his past. He becomes one of the central fighters against Bohman and the forces aligned with Lightning.

After Flame's destruction, Takeru struggles with the loss of his partner but continues dueling. Before leaving Den City, he challenges Revolver and defeats him, finally overcoming the fear associated with Hanoi and the Lost Incident.

Flame is Takeru's Ignis partner and closest companion in LINK VRAINS. Flame understands Takeru's trauma and deliberately helps him regain confidence. Flame's destruction leaves Takeru devastated, but his influence remains central to Takeru's later growth.

Yuusaku Fujiki becomes Takeru's friend and ally. Their shared history as victims of the Lost Incident creates an immediate understanding between them.

Ryoken Kogami represents the Knights of Hanoi and therefore much of what Takeru fears and resents. [Takeru eventually challenges Ryoken Kogami directly and defeats him before returning home.](#spoiler)

Kiku Kamishirakawa is Takeru's childhood friend and one of the people who encourages him to move forward with his life.